Eli Gaynor and the CU defense held Willamette to seven shots on Sunday.
Concordia Withstands Tough Test from Willamette
PORTLAND, Ore.—Facing each other for the first time in 11 years, Concordia defeated Willamette University 2-0 in the team's final non-conference match of the season on Sunday.
Concordia (3-1-0), ranked No. 11 in the NAIA, unleashed 20 shot attempts while holding the Bearcats to seven strikes. The Cavaliers opened the scoring with a
Septi Danciu (Bristita, Romania/Evergreen H.S.) goal in the 24th minute of play.
Goalkeeper
Scott Gross (Gladstone, Ore./Gladstone H.S.) initiated the play with a long goal kick which
Michael Chamberlain (Wailua, Hawaii/Island H.S.) flicked ahead towards Danciu. Waiting for the ball to approach and with his back to the goal, Danciu turned his body and uncorked a one-timer into right-side of the net, beating Willamette keeper Julian Juarez from 12 yards out.
Chamberlain and Gross gaining an assist on the play which ended up being Danciu's second game-winning score of the season, a year after leading the NAIA in game-winning goals.
Chamberlain would tack on a second Cavalier goal at the 72:00 mark with a tap from five yards out after
Quinn Sinser (Bellevue, Wash./Eastside Catholic H.S.) sent a pass from just shy of the end line on the left side of play.
Willamette (3-1-0) had a pair of near goals with Yazan Hishmeh missing just left of the post right out of the break at the 46:07 mark and Julian Hanlon-Austin finding iron on an attempt in the 55th minute.
Both teams accounted for seven corner kicks while Juarez came up big for the Bearcats with nine saves. In addition to the assist, Gross picked up his third win of the season in goal for the Cavs, stopping one shot while clearing a number of dangerous crosses from the corner.
The entire backline for the Cavs played the full 90 minutes with
Ryan Candella (Bend, Ore./Bend H.S.),
Jordan Green (Portland, Ore./Grant H.S.),
Patrick Allred (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic H.S.) and
Eli Gaynor (Vancouver, Wash./Columbia River H.S.) limiting Willamette to just a single shot on goal.
Concordia will now turn its attention to Cascade Collegiate Conference action as it travels to face Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., on Sept. 17. The Cavs will then head south to face Northwest Christian on Sept. 21 before hosting Oregon for its first CCC home match on Sept. 27.